Cybersafety campaign for preschoolers launched

Parents have more to worry about than their child grazing their knee in the playground -- they now should be concerned their toddlers are being kept "cybersafe" as well, an internet safety group said today.

A campaign to keep preschoolers safe when playing on the internet and with other modern technology is to be launched this week, Netsafe said .

The initiative, developed by NetSafe and IBM, offers advice on the safe and appropriate use of internet and technology use across the early childhood education sector .

A brochure outlining the safe and responsible use of the internet and technology devices such as computers, digital cameras, mobile phones, video and web cameras, is currently being distributed to childcare centres nationwide.

Later in the year, the initiative will see special NetSafe training modules available to the early childhood sector.

NetSafe Programme manager Claire Belfour said that while the use of technology had become commonplace in schools, its use in the early childhood area was not yet widespread.

"This means we have the advantage of familiarising young New Zealanders and their families about cybersafety at the same time that the technology is being introduced to the sector, and not afterwards."

The campaign was also designed to support parents and caregivers at home.

"In addition to young children inadvertently finding inappropriate material or being exposed to online predators and cyber bullies, they observe and copy the online behaviour of their parents and older siblings to an extent often not realised by their families," Ms Balfour said.

She cited the example of a New Zealand family that was surprised to receive a parcel of videos ordered online by their four-year-old.

"This experience just goes to show how well youngsters can copy behaviour."

"Young children may appear skilled in internet use, but they will not have yet developed the understanding and judgment to always keep themselves cybersafe," Ms Balfour said.

- NZPA